Sanding Pad Anchor for use with a Detachable Sanding Head

ABSTRACT

A novel device for attaching a sanding pad to the detachable sanding head of a multi-use power tool is disclosed. An anchor is provided which mates with a recess in the face of the sanding head of a multi-use power tool. The anchor is inserted into the recess through an affixed sanding pad. The anchor engages the affixed sanding pad and compresses it between the walls of the recess to assist in securing the sanding pad.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/539,615 filed on Sep. 27, 2011. The entire disclosure contained in U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/539,615 including the attachments thereto, are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The device of the present application relates generally to power tools. More specifically, the device of the present application relates to a device and method which allows sanding heads on multi-purpose power tools to be detached and reattached without removing the sandpaper affixed to the sanding head face.

SUMMARY

The present application describes a novel sanding pad attachment system for a multi-use power tool. An anchor is provided which mates with the recess in the face of a sanding head of a multi-use power tool. The anchor is inserted into the recess through a mounted sanding pad. The anchor engages edges of the mounted sanding pad and impinges the edges against the walls of the recess to assist in securing the sanding pad.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a prior art multi-purpose power tool having a detachable sanding head.

FIG. 2 depicts a prior art sanding pad affixed to a detachable sanding head coupled to a multi-purpose power tool.

FIG. 3 depicts a perspective view of a sanding pad having radial serrations and an embodiment of the anchor of the instant application aligned with the serrated portion of the sanding pad.

FIG. 4 depicts an exploded view of the anchor of the instant application inserted through a serrated sanding pad aligned with the attachment means recess of a sanding head and the attachment means.

FIG. 5 depicts a perspective view of the assembled anchor, sanding pad, sanding head, and multi-purpose power tool.

FIG. 6 depicts a cross sectional of the assembly of FIG. 5 along axis 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As depicted in FIG. 1, innovations in power tools have led to the development of multi-use power tools 100 having interchangeable heads designed to accomplish different tasks. The sanding head 20 with affixed sanding pad 10 is depicted in greater detail in FIG. 2. These multi-use power tools 100 commonly have sanding heads 20 onto which sanding pads 10 are attached, commonly by a hook and loop fabric or an adhesive. The sanding pads 10 designed for these sanding heads 20 are manufactured in shapes corresponding to the geometry of the sanding head 20 of the multi-purpose power tool 100 onto which they are intended to be affixed.

These sanding heads 20 are attached to a multi-use power tool's 100 motor/handle 50 through a sanding head attachment means 22, e.g. bolt 22, which is seated into an attachment means receiving recess 26 in the sanding head face 24 passes through the sanding head 20 to couple with the motor/handle 50. The attachment means receiving recess 26 is typically comprised of a recess floor 28 and recess walls 29. The sanding pad 10 is affixed so as to cover the attachment means receiving recess 26 and installed attachment means 22 in the sanding head face 24, i.e. surface of the sanding head 20 onto which the sanding pad 10 is affixed. The attachment means 22 seats into the attachment means receiving recess 26 so as to reside below the sanding pad 10 affixed to the sanding head face 24. The attachment means receiving recess 26 is deep enough to allow the sanding head end 23, i.e. attachment means head 23, of the attachment means 22 to seat into the attachment means receiving recess 26 below the sanding head face 24 so as to inhibit contact between the attachment means 22 and the surface being sanded. Coverage of the attachment means 22 by the sanding pad 10 also inhibits interchanging operating heads for the multi-purpose power tool 100 and requires repeated detachment and reattachment of the sanding pad 10 which can damage the sanding pad 10 so as to tear it or affect its ability to adhere to the sanding head face 24. Simply leaving an opening through the sanding pad 10 through which the attachment means 22 solves the problem of gaining access to the attachment means 22, but fails to address the problem associated with the affixed sanding pads 10 tendency to migrate across the sanding head face 24 during heavy use. Since only the outer edges of the sanding pad, e.g. the vertices 27 or apices 27 of a substantially triangular sanding pad 10, are commonly used, the center of the sanding pad 10 can be removed above the attachment means receiving recess 26 without detracting from the utility and efficacy of the sanding pad 10 affixed to the sanding head face 24.

FIGS. 3-6 depict views of a serrated sanding pad and an embodiment of the anchor 30 of the instant application. The sanding pad anchor 30 disclosed herein is a plug 30 which cooperates with the attachment means 22 to secure the sanding pad 10 to the sanding head 20. The anchor 30 possesses a top surface 32, i.e. the anchor 30 surface which faces the sanding pad 10 when installed within the attachment means receiving recess 26, an anchor base 34 which engages the attachment means receiving recess 26, and at least one anchor wall 39 which engages the recess wall(s) 29 of the attachment means receiving recess 26 and functions to impinge the sanding pad 10 between the anchor 30 and the recess wall(s) 29 of the attachment means receiving recess 26.

In an alternative embodiment, the attachment means receiving recess 26 could be concave or beveled without affecting the fundamental utility of the attachment means receiving recess 26, i.e. to seat the attachment means 22 below the sanding head face 24 and to provide a surface against which the sanding pad 10 can be impinged by the anchor 30. The base 34 of the anchor 30 is installed to engage the recess floor 28. The anchor wall(s) 39 secure portions of the sanding pad 10 which extend over the attachment means receiving recess 26 against the recess wall(s) 29 of the attachment means receiving recess 26. As the anchor 30 is inserted into the attachment means receiving recess 26, the portions of the sanding pad 10 which extend over the attachment means receiving recess 26 are folded down into attachment means receiving recess 26 and across the recess wall(s) 29. The snug fit of the anchor 30 in the attachment means receiving recess 26 securely pinches or clamps the sanding pad 10 between the recess wall(s) 29 and the anchor wall(s) 39. In a preferred embodiment, the top surface 32 of the anchor 30 is hollowed out or otherwise possesses an indention, i.e. attachment means seat 35, which permits the attachment means head 23 to engage the anchor's 30 top surface 32 below the distal end(s) 37 of the anchor wall(s) 39, i.e. the terminal end of the anchor wall(s) 39 nearest the sanding pad 10 when the anchor base 34 is installed against the recess floor 28 of the anchor wall(s) 39. The distal end(s) 37 of the anchor wall(s) 39 terminate below the sanding head face 24 and reside completely within the attachment means receiving recess 26 when the anchor 30 is fully inserted within the attachment means receiving recess 26.

The anchor 30 is configured for snug insertion into the attachment means receiving recess 26, leaving sufficient space between the recess wall(s) 29 and the anchor wall(s) 39 to receive a sanding pad 10 having a preferred thickness to as to allow the sanding pad 10 to be securely compressed and held between the recess wall(s) 29 and the anchor wall(s) 39. The anchor 30 possesses an attachment channel 33 through which the attachment means 22 passes. The head 23 end of the attachment means 22 seats against the top surface 32 of the anchor 30, i.e. the anchor 30 surface which faces the sanding pad 10 when installed, to securely hold the anchor 30 firmly in the attachment means receiving recess 26 and to further secure the sanding head 20 to the motor/handle 50 of the multi-purpose power tool 100.

During the installation of the anchor 30, it passes through the sanding pad 10 affixed to the sanding head face 24 of the sanding head 20. The sanding pad 10 may be pre-perforated with or otherwise cut to form pliable sanding pad seams 15 which permit the portion of the sanding pad 10 to be installed over the attachment means receiving recess 26, typically this area would substantially be the center of the sanding pad, to be removed or otherwise folded into the attachment means receiving recess 26 either prior to the anchor 30 being inserted into the attachment means receiving recess 26. Alternatively, the portion of the sanding pad 10 over the attachment means receiving recess 26 can be cut or sheared by or otherwise removed by the anchor 30 during installation, in which case the anchor 30 pushes the portion of the sanding pad 10 overlapping the attachment means receiving recess 26 down into the attachment means receiving recess 26 while leaving a portion thereof to remain attached to the sanding pad 10 and clamped between the recess wall(s) 29 and the anchor wall(s) 39. Alternatively, the seams 15 may be a star-pattern or other design which may be perforated into the portion of the sanding pad 10 overlapping the attachment means receiving recess 26 so as to permit the installation of the anchor 30 to remove that perforated portion of the sanding pad 10 during the insertion of the anchor 30 into the attachment means receiving recess 26. The seams 15 are configured to permit the anchor 30 to pass through the sanding pad 10 while folding part of the sanding pad 10 into the attachment means receiving recess 26 by the insertion of the anchor 30. Radial seams 15 extending from a point in the portion of the sanding pad 10 overlapping the attachment means receiving recess 26 have been found to permit relatively easy insertion of the anchor 30 into the attachment means receiving recess 26 while providing sufficient material to be folded over the recess wall(s) 29 which then is securely clamped between the recess wall(s) 29 and the anchor wall(s) 39 when the attachment means 22 engages the anchor 30 and securely couples the sanding head 20 to the motor/handle 50 of the multi-purpose power tool 100. Alternatively or in conjunction with the clamping of the sanding pad 10 between the recess wall(s) 29 and the anchor wall(s) 39, the sanding pad 10 can be secured by clamping it between the anchor base 34 and the recess floor 28.

In an embodiment, the anchor 30 is an annular disc which is configured to snugly seat into an annular attachment means receiving recess 26 in the sanding head face 24 of a commercially available detachable sanding head 20 for use with a multi-purpose power tool 100. Various alternative embodiments utilize different mated geometries for the anchor 30 and attachment means receiving recess 26.

An alternative embodiment of the anchor 30, as depicted in FIG. 7, provides for anchor wall(s) 39 configured to cut the sanding pad 10 so as to create edges which can be folded into the attachment means receiving recess 26 when the anchor 30 is inserted therein over an installed sanding pad. The anchor 30 side walls can be configured in a triangular tooth-like pattern which cuts the sanding pad 10 when inserted top surface 32 first into the attachment means receiving recess 26 to leave portions thereof which overlap the attachment means receiving recess 26. The anchor 30 may then be removed from its inverted insertion into the attachment means receiving recess 26 and then reinserted base 34 first to secure the sanding pad 10 to the sanding head face 24 and the sanding head 20 to the motor/handle 50 of the multi-purpose power tool 100. All preceding embodiments of anchors 30 can conceivably be fashioned from a variety of materials including, but not limited to plastic, metal, metal alloys, and hardened rubber.

One preferred embodiment of an anchor 30 is disc or washer-like anchor which is concave in construction. The disc anchor 30 is preferably configured to snugly mate within the attachment means receiving recess 26 of commercially available detachable sanding heads 20 of multi-purpose power tools 100. Particularly, one such metal disc has an approximate thickness of 0.042 inches (1.07 mm), an attachment means 22 orifice diameter of approximately 0.25 inches (6.35 mm), a disc diameter of approximately 1.1 inches (27.94 mm), and a circumferential lip height of approximately 0.156 inches (3.96 mm) from the top surface 32 of the anchor 30 to the base 34.

Another preferred embodiment of an anchor 30 provides a lid-like anchor 30 having an attachment means channel 33 diameter of approximately 0.25 inches (6.35 mm) and a disc anchor 30 diameter of approximately 0.9375 inches (23.81 mm) and a base thickness of approximately 0.062 inches (1.57 mm). This embodiment may be preferred in various multi-purpose power tool configurations.

Common commercial detachable sanding heads 20 used with multi-purpose power tools 100 include, but are not limited to the RIGID JOBMAX, ROCKWELL SONICRAFTER, DREMEL MULTIMAX MM20, BOSCH PS50-2B, CRAFTSMAN NEXTEC and FEIN FMM250. As previously discussed, only the vertices 17 or apices 17 of the roughly triangular sanding pad are truly useful for sanding. Examples of commercially available sanding pads 10 which are typically roughly triangular in geometry and possess a plurality of aeration holes 18 include, but are not limited to the BOSCH SDNR040 and the MAKITA A-95526, and ALI INDUSTRIES GATOR PADS #7842.

The disclosed anchors 30 enable a method for removal of detachable sanding heads 20 on multi-purpose power tools 100 without causing the removal and likely damage to the sanding pad 10 affixed on the sanding head face 24. The method provides for the use of an anchor 30 that fits within the attachment means receiving recess 26 of the sanding head 20 of a multi-purpose power tool 100 to secure the sanding pad 10 within the attachment means receiving recess 26 by clamping part of the sanding pad 10 between the recess wall(s) 29 and the anchor wall(s) 39 and/or the recess floor 28 and the anchor base 34. As previously indicated, the attachment means receiving recess 26 is provided for the sunken seating of the attachment means 22, e.g. bolt 22, below the sanding head face 24 so as to affix the sanding head 20 to the motor/handle 50 of the multi-purpose power tool 100. Further provided is the method of using the anchor wall(s) 39, and preferably the distal end(s) 37 of the anchor wall(s) 39, anchor 30 to cut or shear the sanding pad 10 so as to facilitate the folding of part of the sanding pad 10 into the attachment means receiving recess 26 for secure clamping by the anchor into the attachment means receiving recess 26. 

1. A device for affixing a sanding pad within the attachment means recess of a detachable sanding head of a multi-purpose power tool, comprising: a. a plug which is seated within an attachment means recess through said sanding pad affixed to said detachable sanding head of said multi-purpose power tool, said plug functioning to trap part of said sanding pad within said attachment means recess, said plug comprising at least: i. a base, a top surface, and at least one side surface extending between said base and said top surface around the perimeter of said plug; ii. an attachment means orifice through which an attachment means may pass, said attachment means functioning to couple said detachable sanding head to said multi-purpose power tool;
 2. The device of claim 1, wherein said plug is shaped to permit it to be inserted into said attachment means recess so that at least one said side surface of said plug resides in close proximity to at least one side recess wall of said attachment means recess so as cause a portion of said sanding pad extending over and folded into said attachment means recess to become clamped between said at least one said recess wall of said attachment means recess and said at least one side surface of said seated plug when said plug is seated within said attachment means recess.
 3. The device of claim 1, wherein said base of a seated said plug is shaped so as to permit it to be inserted into said attachment means recess so as to trap a portion of said sanding pad extending over and folded into said attachment means recess between said base of said plug and said floor of said attachment means recess when said plug is seated within said attachment means recess.
 4. The device of claim 1, wherein said plug is shaped to permit it to be inserted into said attachment means recess so that at least one said side surface of said plug resides in close proximity to at least one side recess wall of said attachment means recess so as cause a portion of said sanding pad extending over and folded into said attachment means recess to become clamped between said at least one said recess wall of said attachment means recess and said at least one side surface of said seated plug and wherein said base of said plug is shaped so as to permit it to be inserted into said attachment means recess so as to trap a portion of said sanding pad extending over and folded into said attachment means recess between said base of said plug and said floor of said attachment means recess when said plug is seated within said attachment means recess.
 5. The device of claim 1, wherein said plug possesses at least one plug wall which extends distally from the perimeter of said top surface and away from said base so as to reside in close proximity to at least one said side recess wall of said attachment means recess when seated therein so as cause a portion of said sanding pad extending over and folded into said attachment means recess to become clamped between said at least one said recess wall of said attachment means recess and said at least one plug wall of said seated plug when said plug is seated within said attachment means recess.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the distal end of said at least one plug wall terminates with serrated teeth which function to serrate said sanding pad along said distal wall when said distal wall is inserted through said sanding pad.
 7. The device of claim 1, wherein said attachment means selected from the group consisting of bolts, screws and related fasteners having an elongated shaft.
 8. The device of claim 1, wherein said device is constructed from a material selected from the group consisting of metal, metal alloys, plastic, and hardened rubber.
 9. The device of claim 1, wherein said plug possesses an annular perimeter.
 10. The device of claim 1, wherein the distance between said base and said top surface of said plug is such that said attachment means will not extend above said sanding head face when seated within said attachment means recess and through said attachment means orifice of said plug.
 11. The device of claim 1, wherein said base and top surface of said plug form a concave disc.
 12. The method of anchoring a sanding pad affixed onto a face of a detachable sanding head for use with a multi-purpose power tool by inserting a plug having an attachment means orifice through a sanding pad having serrations over the portion of the sanding pad overlying an attachment means recess within said face of said detachable sanding head so as to fold said serrations into said attachment means recess beneath said plug as said plug is inserted into said attachment means recess and fixing said serrations between said plug and said attachment means recess so as to affix said sanding pad.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein said serrations are affixed between said plug and said attachment means recess by the secure engagement of an attachment means coupling said detachable sanding head to said multi-purpose power tool so as to compress said plug against a floor of said attachment means recess.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein said serrations are affixed between said plug and said attachment means recess by the secure engagement of an attachment means coupling said detachable sanding head to said multi-purpose power tool so as to compress said plug against at least one side recess wall of said attachment means recess.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein said serrations are affixed between said plug and said attachment means recess by the secure engagement of an attachment means coupling said detachable sanding head to said multi-purpose power tool so as to compress said plug against a floor and at least one side recess wall of said attachment means recess .
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein said sanding pad is perforated around the perimeter of the portion of said sanding pad overlying said attachment means recess so as to facilitate the insertion of the plug through said sanding pad and into said attachment means recess. 